The government's white paper, 'A Smarter Approach to Sentencing', signals a clear intention to empower probation in a post-privatisation world.
This briefing argues that a vital step on this journey would be to professionalise probation properly, creating an independent, external regulator to be the upholder of professional standards and effective practice across probation and offender management in England and Wales.
This is part of our series of briefings that the Centre has published in response to the Sentencing White Paper and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. To read these other briefings please visit our legislation page.